THE FEDERATION of Associations of Private Schools Administrators has slammed Sen. Joel Villanueva’s proposed measure that seeks to prohibit education institutions from withholding the records of students who have not paid their fees.

They said that Senate Bill 2010 or the Anti-Withholding of Student Records Act will disturb the peaceful policies of private schools.

Villanueva’s proposal prohibits education institutions from withholding the official records of students because of non-payment of tuition and other school fees.

FAPSA President Eleazardo Kasilag said that private schools have the right to claim fees from students who enrolled in their program.

“Our tuition fee is not like a loan, which can accumulate and pay it off with a promissory note. We both know another promissory note pays that promissory note,” he said.

Kasilag noted that Villanueva’s reason for the proposal is probably anchored on the Utilitarian theory of “greatest happiness for the greatest number” but FAPSA said that the senator must take into consideration the state of private schools that are barely surviving.

“This bill surely will go viral but it is encouraging a debtor not to pay his debt. Studying in the private schools is an option apart from public schools, but neither has it caused poverty. To learn is a privilege that is less expensive than ignorance,” the FAPSA head said.

“It seems his bill intimidates our established matriculation program to favor his re-electoral bill. It curtails the bread and butter of teachers in the private schools. It is not only the school administrators the bill is trespassing but the teachers as well. Seventy percent of the fees of students goes to the salary of teachers. Twenty percent goes to facilities and only 10 percent for returns on investment. How can teachers be paid if students will not matriculate?” he asked.

FAPSA believes that any politician who espouses the right to run away from debt gives a bitter pill to the public for his reelection.

“What if the tax evaders apply this, is it not rebellion? We advise the young senator not to theorize Utilitarian Theory for it is not absolute. It is simply not the panacea for the problems of Philippine education today,” Kasilag said.

Under the bill, those who will not comply will be punished with P50,000 or imprisonment of six months, or both, at the discretion of the Court.

“Not only that, the school found to have violated the act shall be cancelled of its permit to operate by the Department of Education and pay Pl00,000,” Kasilag said.

“Indeed, this is foreign interference. It is not a provocation; it is a declaration of war between the Senate and the private schools. We appeal to Sen. Villanueva not to pursue it,” he added.